The Fruits that Rot in our Bellies
Reviewed by Anne Bokma
The vibe of The Fruits that Rot in our Bellies is emotionally intense and mysterious.
Emotionally raw, viscerally strange, and steeped in an eerie kind of beauty, The Fruits that Rot in our Bellies is billed as an “afro-surrealist ghost story.” Written and directed by Kitoko Mai, the play explores the ghosts we inherit—both literal and psychological—and the ways in which buried truths ferment in silence.
At first, the title may seem odd. But as the play unfolds, it becomes clear: it speaks to the rot of repressed memories, of family traumas never spoken, and of the sweetness of hope curdling into dread.
Queen Cee shines in the lead role of Fimi, playing both adult and child with heartbreaking clarity and magnetic stage presence. Melissa Murray-Mutch is equally compelling as their tightly wound sister, whose desperation for motherhood veers between comic neurosis and quiet despair. Together, they create a portrait of siblings bound by a past they cannot speak of—until Fimi’s pregnancy begins to break the silence.
What follows is a spiralling descent into a spirit realm — Fimi is haunted by voices and apparitions—family ghosts who may or may not be figments of memory, madness, or magic. The question isn’t just what’s growing inside Fimi, but what has been growing, unspoken, for years.
Mai says about the play: “I wrote this piece because I lowkey wanted to be a surrogate. Naturally, I wanted to imagine what could go wrong. What does the body remember when it starts building a life?”
The premise makes for an intriguing drama with powerful dialogue, expertly delivered by an ensemble cast that works together with an admirable cohesiveness, making even the strangest moments feel grounded.
Content warning: Themes of miscarriage, abortion, incest, and domestic violence.
Event Details
Age Suitability: Mature (ages 18+)
Genre: Theatre—Comedy, Theatre—Drama
Run Time: 60 mins
Venue: Theatre Aquarius Studio
Playwright
Kitoko Mai
Director
Kitoko Mai
Warnings
Other
Themes of miscarriage, abortion, incest, CSA, and domestic violence.